Preview — Sense and Sensibility
by Jane Austen

Sense and Sensibility

'...the more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love.'

Marianne Dashwood is young, flirtatious and ready to meet a knight in shining armour. Her sister, Elinor, is more restrained - she knows that when it comes to romance, slow and steady wins the race. But while both seem to have found what they want, the path to ha'...the more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love.'

Marianne Dashwood is young, flirtatious and ready to meet a knight in shining armour. Her sister, Elinor, is more restrained - she knows that when it comes to romance, slow and steady wins the race. But while both seem to have found what they want, the path to happiness isn't as straightforward as they first thought. True love has a habit of breaking the rules and turning up whenever it's least expected......more

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(view spoiler)[Someone please enlighten me on the connection between Colonel Brandon and Marianne. I understand he is taken with her at first because of her similarity of his first lover, Eliza, but how does he actually fall in love with her? More importantly, how does Marianne come to marry him in the end when he is twice her age and nothing like her? She doesn't even appreciate his company at the beginning of the novel. (hide spoiler)]

kellyjaneI think that Colonel Brandon was written as falling in love with Marianne almost as quickly and easily as he was smitten with her. Jane Austen doesn't…moreI think that Colonel Brandon was written as falling in love with Marianne almost as quickly and easily as he was smitten with her. Jane Austen doesn't really explain it (she never takes us inside the mind of Colonel Brandon); but apparently he sees qualities in Marianne (passion, loyalty, intelligence, exuberance) that he had been prone to admire through his adult life, beginning with Eliza. (That ventured, I don't think that Colonel Brandon was a particularly well-written character, truth be told.)

My sense of Marianne was that she was written as someone who undergoes a rather profound shift in her consciousness, outlook, and values as a result of almost bringing her own destruction upon herself. She accepted Elinor's ethos of 'emotional self-government' rather than impulsive emotional reactivity-- along with accepting more of Elinor's outlook on social proprieties and etc-- and therefore, it seems to me, was open to the more 'sensible' choice of marrying a mature and stable and decent man who would be devoted to her. It seemed to me that Jane Austen hinted something like that Marianne would come to love Colonel Brandon over time, because it was her nature 'never to do anything by halves'. It was more a respect and gratitude that would evolve into a feeling of love because of Marianne's strong sense of loyalty to whatever she could genuinely appreciate. All of her surrounding loved ones wanted the marriage to take place, and she acquiesced.

But for me personally, it wasn't a particularly satisfying arc of the story's drama. I can understand it; but I can't help feeling that Marianne sacrificed a part of herself in marrying for respect rather than organically passionate love.(less)

I still twitch a bit, but I'm getting more and more man-comfortable saying that because there no denying that it’s true. Normally, I am not much of a soapy, chick-flick, mani-pedi kinda guy. I don’t spritz my wine, rarely eat quiche and have never had anything waxed (though the list of things that need it grows by the hour).

But I would walk across a desert in bloomers and a parasol to read MI love Jane Austen. I LOVE Jane Austen. I LOVE JANE AUSTEN!!I…LOVE…JANE…AUSTEN!!I……LOVE…..JANE..…AUSTEN!!

I still twitch a bit, but I'm getting more and more man-comfortable saying that because there no denying that it’s true. Normally, I am not much of a soapy, chick-flick, mani-pedi kinda guy. I don’t spritz my wine, rarely eat quiche and have never had anything waxed (though the list of things that need it grows by the hour).

But I would walk across a desert in bloomers and a parasol to read Ms. Austen. Pride and Prejudice is one of my all time favorite books and Sense and Sensibility is certainly up among the elite. Jane can absolutely bust me when she starts penning that snappy prose laced with all those sly, subtle, sarcastic phrases. She’s like prim and proper meets saucy and bossy.

I find it interesting that the "descriptions" of her books never seem very appealing to me before I begin them (I would direct your attention to the non chick-flick portion of my “I’m a Man Intro” above). For example, Sense and Sensibility is the story of two sisters, one emotionally reserved (to put it mildly) and proper and the other emotionally volatile and prone to disregard convention, as they struggle with life and relationships following the death of their father. Doesn’t it sound kinda Hallmark Networky? While I can appreciate that stuff, it doesn’t generally produce boat float with me.

However, the quality of the writing and the nuanced sassiness of the dialogue just warms my cockles and makes me prone to bouts of squealing. Her characterization, primarily the two sisters, but true for the rest of the cast as well, is so impeccably done that I keep expecting one of them to tap me on the shoulder as I’m reading…..don’t worry, none of them have yet but I’m still hoping.

Probably the most appealing aspect of Jane’s novels is the need for her intelligent, strong-willed female characters to move through the emotionally stifling requirements of “Victorian” society. So much of the charm of Jane’s writing revolves around the characters being forced to find an “acceptable” mode of expressing raw emotions when “bitch slapping” and “Fuck offing” just won’t do. I love watching the characters having to comport themselves so “correctly” as they explain to each other that they are going to ruin their families, steal their lovers, etc.

I love the roadblocks that the Victorian setting erects in the emotional road of the story and how effortlessly Jane navigates around them. She draws her characters feeling the deepest and rawest of emotions while having to maintain an outward appearance of dignity and respectability. The fact that she is able to convey that crushing sense of emotion to the reader without depictions of expressive behavior is just another example of her boggle the mind brilliance.

Okay, the gush must end and here is as good a place as any. You should really read this one. It’s good. 5.0 to 5.5 STARS. HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!!!

P.S. I listened to the audio version of this narrated by Juliet Stevenson and she was superb....more

Money. It's all about the money. I mean, why else would you marry someone?

In Sense and Sensibility there are three major factors beyond the usual considerations of appearance, personality and character conduct when looking for a marriage in 19th century England. Indeed, what the Dashwood sisters look for- well Elinor really because she has more refined tastes and is far more discerning in regards to men- is a man’s opinion on literature and his understanding of natural beauty. What most people lMoney. It's all about the money. I mean, why else would you marry someone?

In Sense and Sensibility there are three major factors beyond the usual considerations of appearance, personality and character conduct when looking for a marriage in 19th century England. Indeed, what the Dashwood sisters look for- well Elinor really because she has more refined tastes and is far more discerning in regards to men- is a man’s opinion on literature and his understanding of natural beauty. What most people look for is far removed from the realms of sentiment: they just look for money. The Dashwood sisters are wiser:

“The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!”

“.....If I could but know his heart, everything would become easy.”

And this is the problem with society, attaining money and keeping it, unfortunately, becomes the main signifier for someone’s worth. Austen, as per usual, is razor sharp with her wit here. There are so many ironic moments involving fortune hunters and extremely greedy (and selfish) relatives who only appear when they think there’s something to gain from their supposed loved ones. Everybody is so obsessed with money, more so than I’ve seen in a any other Austen. She always satirises the elites, though here most of them seem to seek the same thing with no regard for others.

I also loved the fact that there were two heroines opposed to one. Elinor and Marianne are very different people, and they interact with the world in very different ways, though they each have their values and their faults. Together, they help each other and look out for each other as sisters should. It’s a cruel world and it’s a hard world, though the Dashwood sisters have each other and their mother. They exemplify true family values which contrast against the self-involved (and rather moronic) approach of Sir John Dashwood.

This made me laugh:

He just loves money and seems unable, like many other characters, of finding new money. All their wealth comes from inheritance rather than actual incomes. They seem to have vast fortunes but don’t quite know how to add to them in an honest fashion. He is also completely controlled by his wife. At the start of the novel he seems so genuine but she twists him all too easily. Perhaps he loved her so much that he was willing to neglect his family or perhaps he was already on the verge of making such a harsh decision and she gave him the slightest of nudges to send him over. I don’t think we’ll ever know for sure.

The romances in here were more fickle and self-involved compared to her other novels. It’s one of the rare cases in fiction such as this where I was unaware who would actually end up with whom. But that’s just the nature of what Austen was trying to show here. It also made the reading experience far more entertaining. In Pride and Prejudice, Emma and even Persuasion it was so very clear how it would all end. This one, on the other hand, made things a little more lively.

And, of course, I could only ever give it five stars because of its subtle wit, eloquence of expression and sophisticated plot. How I do love Austen. I've just got Mansfield Park left to read now....more

Jane Austen’s first published work, Sense and Sensibility, published in 1811, is more straightforward than most of her later works. The story focuses on two sisters, ages 17 and 19, and how their romantic interests and relationships epitomize their different approaches to life. The older sister Elinor embodies sense, good judgment and discretion.

Her sister Marianne is emotional and volatile, following her heart with a supreme disregard for what society might – and does – think.

Elinor is pretty mJane Austen’s first published work, Sense and Sensibility, published in 1811, is more straightforward than most of her later works. The story focuses on two sisters, ages 17 and 19, and how their romantic interests and relationships epitomize their different approaches to life. The older sister Elinor embodies sense, good judgment and discretion.

Her sister Marianne is emotional and volatile, following her heart with a supreme disregard for what society might – and does – think.

Elinor is pretty much always right.Marianne’s parade gets rained on, in more ways than one.

Although at most points in this novel Austen seems to be saying very clearly that Elinor's approach of being sensible is superior to Marianne's sensibility, every once in a while the story suggests that maybe being sensible all the time isn't the best idea, and there needs to be some balance between the two extremes. (view spoiler)[For example, if Edward hadn’t been reasonably certain that Elinor wasn’t in love with him, he probably wouldn’t have spent so much time with her when he wasn’t free to court her (hide spoiler)]. Food for thought.

One truly nice thing is that despite their vast differences and their occasional fairly frequent annoyances with each other, Elinor and Marianne have a deep love and loyalty for one another. Their relationship remains strong through all of the stresses that hit them, and is even strengthened during the course of the novel.

Another thing that struck me in this story is how many of the characters – other than the totally emotionally honest Marianne – are keeping secrets. Edward and Lucy(view spoiler)[ have their secret engagement (hide spoiler)]. Elinor is honor-bound to keep Lucy’s secret, at the expense of her own emotional health. Willoughby? HAHAHA! (view spoiler)[He keeps his true intentions and even his character secret. (hide spoiler)] Even Colonel Brandon has a secret past. The difference is, some people are keeping secrets to protect other people, for honorable reasons; others are doing it for self-serving reasons.

There are some slower parts but, honestly, I never got bored, even though I've seen both of the recent S&S movies so many times that there weren't any big surprises. There were several smaller surprises, as you might expect from reading any book after seeing a movie of it. It was interesting seeing what the 1995 filmmakers chose to omit or change (e.g., Lady Middleton and Lucy Steele's older sister are missing from Emma Thompson's 1995 film, and Margaret Dashwood was given an actual personality in the movie. Can't argue with any of those moves.).

You have to love a novel that includes a statement like this:

The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair, and the prosperity which crowned it, therefore, may be held forth as a most encouraging instance of what an earnest, an unceasing attention to self-interest, however its progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time and conscience.

Jane Austen's wit and dry humor really make the story.

S&S might not be a perfect book, but based on the amount of highlighting I was doing at the end, and my happy smiles when I finished, it gets all the stars.

Initial comments:Buddy read September 2015.

Here's my problem: I love both the 1995 Ang Lee/Emma Thompson film and the 2008 BBC version, have watched both of them, um, more than once (who's counting?) and now I can barely remember the original novel. That clearly needs to change.

This is one of my all-time favorite books. I like it even more than I do Pride and Prejudice.

Everyone goes crazy over Lizzie Bennett and idolizes her, but my role model will always be Elinor Dashwood. She is a great sister, a trustworthy confidante, someone who always acts with honor and compassion. She is smart, fiscally responsible, stoic, and strong. I admire her so much and wish I could be more like her in real life.

I hate John Dashwood and want to punch him in the tRE-READ September 6, 2015

This is one of my all-time favorite books. I like it even more than I do Pride and Prejudice.

Everyone goes crazy over Lizzie Bennett and idolizes her, but my role model will always be Elinor Dashwood. She is a great sister, a trustworthy confidante, someone who always acts with honor and compassion. She is smart, fiscally responsible, stoic, and strong. I admire her so much and wish I could be more like her in real life.

I hate John Dashwood and want to punch him in the throat. Fucker. It surprises me each time that he is the most hated character for me in the novel.

Everyone hates on Marianne, but I like her. So she's a silly teenager! That's okay. She certainly learns and grows more than anyone else in the whole novel. She has a good heart and loves her sister dearly - I adore the scenes where she stands up for Elinor!

The loving sister relationship is one of the best things about this novel. Nothing melts my heart more than good sibling relationships. And Elinor and Marianne have each other's backs 100%. Even though their personalities couldn't be more different, their love and compassion for each other knows no bounds.

Austen is genuinely funny. I was snickering at some of her writing. She's an amazing author. She gets some jabs in there.

Elinor agreed to it all, for she did not think he deserved the compliment of rational opposition.

The most hilarious line in the novel:

"It is not everyone," said Elinor, "who has your passion for dead leaves."

The only man who was attractive to me was Colonel Brandon. He was the only male who had me drawing little hearts in my notebook. I can't be bothered with Edward. I don't think he acted very honorably. >.< Although I always tear up at the end when Elinor is so overcome with emotion that she runs from the room!

Elinor could sit no longer. She almost ran from the room, and as soon as the door was closed, burst into tears of joy, which at first she thought would never cease.

Elinor was to be the comforter of others in her own distresses, no less than in theirs...

She never burdens others with her problems, but is always there to comfort and listen to anyone else. The way she deals with Lucy Steele! She's a saint to put up with that, OMG!

She's beyond amazing.

(view spoiler)[Marianne restored to life, health, friends, and to her doting mother, was an idea to fill her heart with sensations of exquisite comfort, and expand it in fervent gratitude; but it led to no outward demonstrations of joy, no words, no smiles.(hide spoiler)]All within Elinor's breast was satisfaction, silent and strong.

Tl;dr - An amazing book, one I'm sure to read over and over again. This never ceases to be enjoyable! And I LOVE love love the film versions. I have watched them innumerable times! The 2008 BBC version with Morahan is the absolute BEST, IMO. I've included a list at the bottom of this review in case anyone wants to see some awesome film adaptations on this amazing novel.

The story of two teenage girls with romantic troubles, caused by unreliable men (they have dark secrets, but who doesn't ? ), in 1790's England, calm Elinor Dashwood 19, and her younger sibling , by a couple of years, the emotional, Marianne, 17. When their father is no longer living, all the family, including the mother, Mrs. Dashwood and third sister, Margaret, 13, must vacate their mansion, in Sussex, Norland Park, a large estate, which many generations of the quiet, respectable Dashwoods, haThe story of two teenage girls with romantic troubles, caused by unreliable men (they have dark secrets, but who doesn't ? ), in 1790's England, calm Elinor Dashwood 19, and her younger sibling , by a couple of years, the emotional, Marianne, 17. When their father is no longer living, all the family, including the mother, Mrs. Dashwood and third sister, Margaret, 13, must vacate their mansion, in Sussex, Norland Park, a large estate, which many generations of the quiet, respectable Dashwoods, have resided. Only men can inherit this property says the law, then, ( a rich uncle, they received it originally from, insisted in his will this provision), and relatives can be greedy. John Dashwood , their half - brother, has little family feelings and his cold-heart wife, Fanny, none, take over. Breaking his promise to his dying father, to help his sisters and stepmother, financially, selfish Fanny, persuades him, with not too much effort, that these women can survive, very well, without any assistance, she tells her wealthy husband ... And money is money, and promises just words (otherwise, the couple's child, " poor little Harry", would starve ! ). Sir John Middleton, a kindly cousin, of the mother's, offers the Dashwood's, a small cottage, low rent, to live, close to his big house. Desperately wanting to leave the hostile environment of their former home, they relocate there, in far away, Devonshire, by Allenham village. Being very pretty women, the sisters, soon attract admirers, the shy Mr. Edward Ferrars, the eldest brother of Fanny, who likes Elinor, unlike his sister, Miss Dashwood, thinks, but she can never be sure, he doesn't speak much. On a rainy day the two girls, imprudently are walking outside, over the country hills, they enjoy exploring the beautiful area, but the weather becomes too much, running, for shelter, Marianne takes a tumble, hurts her leg, and unable to go any further and still some distance, from Barton Cottage . What to do ? Elinor can't get her home. Mr. John Willoughby, hunting with his dog, in the rain, comes along and carries Marianne back to the cottage. The amazed mother, Margaret and the whole family are speechless. Handsome, charming, well spoken, Mr. Willoughby, visits the injured girl every day, to see that everything's all right ... But he doesn't fool anybody ... the youngest sister falls madly in love and he appears also, to experience the same emotion. He's a good , fun loving friend, of Sir John's, well known and liked in the neighborhood, with a rich old relative he wisely sees, often, nearby, Mrs. Smith. The perfect man, has a rival, Colonel Brandon, more than ten years older, at 35, with a huge house, a lonely , honorable gentleman, but Marianne has eyes only for Mr. Willoughby ( a secret libertine). And Mr. Ferrars has a fiancee, he never mentions ... Even the Colonel, might have skeletons, in his closet... A great book by the incomparable Jane Austen, her likes will never arise again, years go by, relentlessly, customs and technology changes the Earth, either for better or worse, but there will always be her words....more

This is the third Jane Austen book I've read and it's by far my favorite. I love the story, love the heroines, love the MEN I just love everything about this. There was so much happening that it never felt slow or boring and the SUSPENSE and REVELATIONS at the end of the book were so fantastically done. AGH JUST SO GOOD.TIME TO GO WATCH THE MOVIE.

'Know your own happiness. Want for nothing but patience -- or give it a more fascinating name: Call it hope.'

What does it mean for one to be 'sensible'? As we are all individuals, with our own needs, is it sensible to always act according to our countenance (to steal a lovely phrase from Austen), to keep true to ourselves, or is there a code of manners that we should adhere to in order to maintain a proper course of action? Austen’s aptly titled Sense and Sensibility, a staggeringly impressive f'Know your own happiness. Want for nothing but patience -- or give it a more fascinating name: Call it hope.'

What does it mean for one to be 'sensible'? As we are all individuals, with our own needs, is it sensible to always act according to our countenance (to steal a lovely phrase from Austen), to keep true to ourselves, or is there a code of manners that we should adhere to in order to maintain a proper course of action? Austen’s aptly titled Sense and Sensibility, a staggeringly impressive first publication from 19 year old Austen, probes the very ideas of it’s title. Told through the juxtaposition of two sisters forging their own sensible rationalities as they find themselves in a society fueled by social standings and money, they discover that love does not always fit pleasantly into such a world.

An impressive feature of the Jane Austen novels is her ability to construct a broad scale society to immerse her heroines. She juggles a large cast of characters, each with a uniquely rounded personality and varied level of likeability, which gives a realistic scope and portrayal to the story. Just like in our own lives, we see Elinor and Marianne dealing with friends, rivals, busybodies and outright scoundrels. Austen manages to flesh her characters out with positive and negative traits, giving even the despicable ones a moment to plead their case. The reader is left to either accept or reject such justifications on their own terms, and, in a way, if even the ‘villainous’ act in what they see to be a sensible manner, Austen calls into question our own ideals and interpretations on the matter. She is clever at keeping an ironic flair to her characters, offering a dark side to ones you initially thought amiable, and bestowing grief of less-than-Prince-Charming characteristics to those who should be the true champion of hearts.

The actions of each character show the variety of ways one can interact and react within society, offering a wide number of actions to decide between when declaring what is ‘truly sensible’. The two sisters experience near-mirrored heartbreak and respond in polarizing manners. Is it more sensible to keep your feelings buried, suffering in solitude, always appearing calm and collect at the risk of seeming cold, or more sensible to wear one’s heart on their sleeve, falling into self-pity while drawing the attention of those who can care and offer support? Even the smallest characters can be looked at in this ways. Is sensibility, to toy with hearts, to stick your nose in another’s business, to marry for love with no money or for money with no love?

Perhaps a proper title could have also been Cents and Sensibility, as Austen takes careful aim at the dominating social constructs. The opinions on money, and it’s unavoidable, necessary power over society and the not-so-well-off Dashwood’s particularly, is a crucial element to what is sensible. The social commentary is thick and delicious. We witness many broken hearts in the name of money, and many hearts set on love faced with crippling financial consequences. The final results of the novel however, goes to prove the lyrics 'you can't always get what you want, but when you try sometimes, you'll find you get what you need.'

While I began reading the Austen/Bronte novels feeling like it is something I should know going into a literature degree, thinking ‘oh well, I guess I should know these’, I’ve come to discover I really enjoy them. Especially reading them alongside so many post-modernist works of genius; Austen has been the anchor keeping me from being lost in the Zone. Occasionally it is nice to escape the bells and whistles of modern lit, to step out of the multi-layered metafiction and swirling narratives that I so love, and read a novel that is just as incredible on a powerful but elegant voice, ironic wit, and an acute sense of society alone. I highly recommend Jane Austen to anyone. I want to show up with flowers for Elinor and spend all day sipping tea with her from dainty cups and sighing about weather and society. However, I would be doing a great disservice to you and two the two fine reviewers I am about to speak of, to continue keeping your time and not sending you to these two outstanding reviews: Liberty’s, who I’ve come to consider my professor in all that is Austen/Bronte/Woolf, etc, and the wonderful Kelly, who has said everything I wanted to say and more, but far better. Austen’s world makes us all question our morality and actions, and the world is a better place for it.4/5...more

For me, it took too long to get going. Not until they arrived in London that I started to get curious about how the story will unfold and what will happen to the Dashwood sisters. Elinor, I liked well enough but I found Marianne to be too self-righteous and annoying. She did turn a new leaf in the end but I think it came too late for me to start liking her at that point.

Owning to the fact that because of HER, I had to deal with a selfish man namedMy penultimate Jane Austen novel. (nooooooo!)

For me, it took too long to get going. Not until they arrived in London that I started to get curious about how the story will unfold and what will happen to the Dashwood sisters. Elinor, I liked well enough but I found Marianne to be too self-righteous and annoying. She did turn a new leaf in the end but I think it came too late for me to start liking her at that point.

Owning to the fact that because of HER, I had to deal with a selfish man named Willoughby. And even after I thought I was in the clear, had to suffer through his long arse, asinine speech of how he pitied himself(view spoiler)[for having to give Marianne up in order to marry his very wealthy wife... (hide spoiler)]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Insufferable man! Get lost already!

I'm afraid I was not partial to any of the men in this. Can you tell? Ha!

The only one with Y chromosome who was a bit interesting was Colonel Brandon but he had such a small role in the book. I wish we could see more of him! Even Mr. Palmer was entertaining to read about. As for the rest, I hated Willoughby (yes, needed to be point out again) and Edward was... well, he was kind of boring.

All these main characters in this book made me appreciate, probably for the first time, the 'mouthy' characters in Austen novels. I know, I know, I'm shocked myself. I never endeared myself to any of them before. Although I was real close to do that for Miss Bates in Emma but ended up didn't - she was okay but that was all.

Here, I loved it whenever Mrs. Jennings and Charlotte/Mrs. Palmer were in the scene. Delightful in contrast of several insipid, stoic characters.

Okay, I LOVED this book. I don't even know why. It's about . . . girls who like boys! Who are jerks! Um, the end! But it was funny. But clever funny, which is my favorite kind. And I enjoyed deciphering the late 18th century prose. It made me feel smart, just to figure out what she was saying half the time!

Also I love all the wacky British society stuff. Like sending notes! And walking places! And having breakfast at other peoples' houses! And I enjoyed figuring out theThis my first Jane Austen.

Okay, I LOVED this book. I don't even know why. It's about . . . girls who like boys! Who are jerks! Um, the end! But it was funny. But clever funny, which is my favorite kind. And I enjoyed deciphering the late 18th century prose. It made me feel smart, just to figure out what she was saying half the time!

Also I love all the wacky British society stuff. Like sending notes! And walking places! And having breakfast at other peoples' houses! And I enjoyed figuring out the etiquette of the day. Like, it's improper to exchange letters with a member of the opposite sex with whom you are not engaged? Crazy! But it's cool to be engaged and not TELL anyone? Insane! I love it.

I didn't get a chance to return this to the library right away, so I'm currently audio-book free, and instead of listening to music like a normal person, I STARTED IT OVER AGAIN. Seriously, who would think I would like Jane Austen so much?

The narrator was Donada Peters. I've never heard of her before, but she did a great job. I don't think I'd've enjoyed it nearly as much had I actually had to READ the thing.

I am now going to listen to every Austen audiobook I can get my hands on, and also a biography. I'm reading Frank Herbert and Jane Austen at once! I love it....more

New review to come eventually. Can't quite put it all into words yet. * * *ORIGINAL:Ah, the third member of the Holy Trinity of Austen. Also deservedly so. This is my intellectual favorite of the Austens. By that, I'm not calling it "intellectual" I'm just saying that taking emotional attachment to other books out of it, this is my objective favorite Austen. I actually believe that the story of the women is better than Pride and Prejudice. Go on, shoot me for that one. I've taken it before for tNew review to come eventually. Can't quite put it all into words yet. * * *ORIGINAL:Ah, the third member of the Holy Trinity of Austen. Also deservedly so. This is my intellectual favorite of the Austens. By that, I'm not calling it "intellectual" I'm just saying that taking emotional attachment to other books out of it, this is my objective favorite Austen. I actually believe that the story of the women is better than Pride and Prejudice. Go on, shoot me for that one. I've taken it before for that. The romance might be better, more tight, more like one would idealistically want in Pride and Prejudice, but the ones here are more realistic and would have a better chance of lasting in real life. Colonel Brandon and Marianne are one of my favorite flawed couples of any piece of literature. This book finds faith in romances that are less than perfect, heroes who don't act like heroes (Colonel Brandon wins over the romantic figure of Willoughby in the end), and heroines who are at times geniunely ridiculous in the things they choose to do. Not because Austen writes them ridiculously. All women do things like that, and these girls find their way to love anyway. And not with the people conventional plotlines or even gothic strangeness would normally put them with either. By all rights, Eleanor and Colonel Brandon should make a quietly sensible couple, if one thinks about it. But that's not how this ends. There's enough romance left in it for some poetry to how the story ends. None of the men are one or even two dimensional, either. They don't merely serve as the means to the narcissitic heroine's end. No cardboard Prince Charmings with one ridiculous flaw here. They're very believable. I've always thought one of the strengths of Austen is that she writes novels that are undoubtably marketed to women, but men can still see themselves in her heroes if they read them.

The movie is my favorite Jane Austen movie, as a side note. And one of my favorites in general. I've been watching it since I was about 13. It's beautiful. So is the soundtrack. Emma Thompson's performance alone is worth the viewing. Ang Lee.. before he switched over to gay cowboys. Yes, he did period pieces. Who would have known, right?...more

Hmmm, how to critique one of the most revered writers of romance literature? Now, before all of your Jane-ites get on my case for being unromantic or whatever, let me say only that unfortuantely, I read "Persuasion," Austen's last novel, and found it to be one of the best books I've ever read. Now having read "Sense and Sensibility," I will say that it truly doese feel like a first novel, as if the author was still trying to find her voice. So I've done the bookends of Austen, much like a concerHmmm, how to critique one of the most revered writers of romance literature? Now, before all of your Jane-ites get on my case for being unromantic or whatever, let me say only that unfortuantely, I read "Persuasion," Austen's last novel, and found it to be one of the best books I've ever read. Now having read "Sense and Sensibility," I will say that it truly doese feel like a first novel, as if the author was still trying to find her voice. So I've done the bookends of Austen, much like a concert of Beethoven's 1st and 9th symphonies...thus, comparisons between nascency and maturity are inevitable.

I will say that Austen's observations of the human mind, her cutting social critiques, and commentaries on the games and masquerades which were all but a necessity of British society in the 18th/19th centuries are fascinating and beautifully rendered. Her prose is art, but the story, in my opinion, is lacking. Two semi-rich young women do the social dance with men who are alternately gentlemanly or cads, reversals and revelations ensue, followed at the end by weddings which are not exactly meant to leave us with the warmest of feelings (as many weddings do). Many of the characters are unlikable (some are downright despicable) and I felt all along that much like Shakespeare, Austen's stories are meant to be performed rather than read, so that the subtleties of the social ingraces and the sublimations of true feelings can be more truly experienced by an audience. The plot itself is anything but complicated and I'm sorry to say that without Austen's ingenious prose, this novel would barely merit a footnote in history.

My recommendation for those of you who are not hardcore Austen fans, read "Persuasion" instead.

Being the older sibling, while growing up I often felt like I was shoved into the role of being the sensible one, the reasonable one, the responsible one. That is how I was seen. That is what people believed of me. Underneath the skin of the rational, reserved tut-tutter writhed an often non-sensical, unreasonable, irresponsible being. But it took the occurrence of extreme circumstances for others to see it.

Such is the life of Elinor Dashwood, the elder sister in a small, displacCall me Elinor.

Being the older sibling, while growing up I often felt like I was shoved into the role of being the sensible one, the reasonable one, the responsible one. That is how I was seen. That is what people believed of me. Underneath the skin of the rational, reserved tut-tutter writhed an often non-sensical, unreasonable, irresponsible being. But it took the occurrence of extreme circumstances for others to see it.

Such is the life of Elinor Dashwood, the elder sister in a small, displaced family of all females. It is her younger, flightier sister Marianne who seems to grab life by the balls. By all outward appearances, Marianne is the feeling one.

Revealing the depths of the true feelings these two sisters experience, whether on their sleeves or behind seemingly impenetrable layers of veils, is the goal Jane Austen set herself in Sense and Sensibility, and she achieved it spectacularly. With alternately bold and subtle strokes, the author created a masterwork of intricate design. One criticism might be that the design is too delicate in places (a cracked block or two out of the many solid ones upon which the premiss is built or too much of a reliance on happenstance), but it is not enough to deter from the overall achievement: Austen's triumphant capture of human behavior and that odd incarnation of emotion in early 19th century Britain....more

Dear AustenI will confess right off the bat that I’m one of those readers who never “got” you. I tried to read Pride and Prejudice years ago, but gave up after a few pages because of your writing style. What can I say – I had less patience in those days with long, indirect sentences which seemed to use 20 words to say what could be easily said in five (hah! I’m one to talk on that score…). I read Emma a few years ago and honestly did not care for it. It wasn’t so much the language this time; itDear AustenI will confess right off the bat that I’m one of those readers who never “got” you. I tried to read Pride and Prejudice years ago, but gave up after a few pages because of your writing style. What can I say – I had less patience in those days with long, indirect sentences which seemed to use 20 words to say what could be easily said in five (hah! I’m one to talk on that score…). I read Emma a few years ago and honestly did not care for it. It wasn’t so much the language this time; it was the fact that there seemed to be about a dozen main characters and only one of them (Mr. Knightley, of course) appeared to not be a complete and utter twit. Emma herself was dumber than a bag of hammers, and every other character seemed to fall somewhere on the continuum between “moron” and “get any stupider and we’ll need to water you twice a week..

I don’t really like reading about stupid people, so Emma frustrated me. Nonetheless, I picked up a copy of Sense and Sensibility recently,and what?off course i couldn't muster courage to let it roast every nerve out of me,by going on and on and onIts earned the highest place of "honer" in my shelf of un-finished and masterly-shitty! and the only thing i yearn to beg,if i per-chanced happen to see her(quite unlikely huh!) is"will you be kind enough to precise your stretched-into-miles lines when its needed to be, and dialogues a bit un-flowary when its needed to be and a slight fuckin witty while writing your too-stupid characters it really will be an act of goodness in your part"

My brain's still fried from even trying to read this one..God help me I'm gonna banished and named "un-classy" for such blasphemybut i'm just much overwhelmed to let prudence triumph over emotions..

February 2016, Part II: A couple of years ago, I re-read Jane Eyre, and because I was overwhelmed with the task of writing a review for such a classic book, I decided to get weird and write the review in the form of letters to the characters. Since then, with an eventual plan to re-read all of Jane Austen's books, I've had it in the back of my mind that I'd do the same with as many future classic books that I could. So. This is me doing that. And I'll be doing it all year for the rest of Austen'

February 2016, Part II: A couple of years ago, I re-read Jane Eyre, and because I was overwhelmed with the task of writing a review for such a classic book, I decided to get weird and write the review in the form of letters to the characters. Since then, with an eventual plan to re-read all of Jane Austen's books, I've had it in the back of my mind that I'd do the same with as many future classic books that I could. So. This is me doing that. And I'll be doing it all year for the rest of Austen's books, one every couple of months. I'm pretty excited about it, actually. (Spoilers for a two hundred year old book to follow. Seriously, all the spoilers. Don't read this if you haven't read Sense and Sensibility yet. Which you absolutely should, it's delightful.)

- - -

Dear Fanny,

Let's get this right out in the open first thing: You are a terrible, terrible person. And this is only compounded by the fact that you think yourself so great and faultless, not a stain of guilt on your soul, that rainbows undoubtedly sprout from your b-hole.

No, that's perhaps giving you too much credit. I believe 'mercenary' is an accurate descriptor, though. And perhaps 'sociopath.' Or maybe I won't go that far. Perhaps you are only a narcissist. See, I'm looking here for words that will describe you as the self-interested, uncaring, status-monger that you really are deep down inside. A person who not only cares so little for others that she actively promotes situations to their disadvantage, but who moves others to do so as well. There is no evidence whatsoever that you feel any sort of affection for anyone but yourself. I don't even think you feel for your son or husband, except as extensions of yourself and your image.

Still, after you stop speaking and I don't have to listen to you anymore, I can't really be bothered by you because ultimately I will always believe you will be deeply unhappy, never satisfied and always scheming, only one of many characters in this novel who represent Austen's deep criticism of the society she lived in.

---

Dear John Dashwood,

I have zero respect for you, you weak-willed pushover of a man with very poor taste in women. Your sisters needed you.

You son of a bitch.

---

Dear Robert Ferrars,

Although I do not care for you personally, I must let you know how deeply grateful I am that you decided to steal your brother's worthless fiancé out from under him, leaving him free to marry the lovely and deserving Elinor instead. Your motives were entirely selfish, so I won't praise you, but your role here cannot be denied.

I just . . . I was trying to find a nice way to say this, but I really hate you. I hate your stupid face and your stupid sister and your stupid fake niceness, and the stupid way your stupid self got stupid engaged to my Elinor's most favorite person, and then you were too stupid greedy to let him go when you realized he didn't love you anymore. BASICALLY YOU ARE STUPID. But most of all I hate the way you treated Elinor, the kindest most lovely human being you have probably ever met. There was no reason for you to flaunt your engagement to her other than to keep her in her place, and indulge in the cruelest sort of vindictive behavior, solely to make yourself feel better about your own flagging prospects. You absolutely knew that they were in love with each other and you milked that situation for all it was worth.

In the words of one of my favorite film characters, you're not even pond scum. You're the pus that infects the mucous that cruds up the fungus that feeds on the pond scum.

And your hair is stupid.

---

Dear Sir John Middleton,

You're a nice chap, even if a bit of a dullard. If you don't mind some advice, though, you might want to expand your horizons a bit. "Hunting" and "hunting dogs" being your only expertise somewhat limits your ability to have an actual conversation. Still, you offered the Dashwoods an affordable place to live when their much closer relations completely deserted them, and you always have the best interests of your friends in mind. I can't help but like you.

---

Dear Mrs. Dashwood,

I'm sorry your husband died, leaving you homeless and virtually penniless, dependent on anyone who is willing to help you.

You have lovely daughters.

Er, okay . . . . byeeee.

---

Dear Margaret,

You're basically not in the book at all so I have nothing to say to you, though your movie counterpart is quite delightful.

---

Dear Mrs. Jennings,

Marianne was kind of a turd to you throughout large portions of this novel, and you didn't deserve it. You're a nice person, if a bit oblivious. Maybe just think a little harder before you say things out loud, though.

And just a quick question, did you drop Charlotte on her head as a child, or . . . you know, never mind. We won't dwell on it.

---

Dear Mr. Palmer,

Stop being such a dick to your wife. Sure, she's possibly the most dimwitted, annoying person on the planet, but you're the one that decided to marry her. Sleep in that bed you made.

---

Dear Mrs. Palmer,

Get it together.

---

Dear Willoughby,

Halfway through this book, I was ready to punch you in the nards until you cried uncle, but I forgot about the end part where you explain away a lot of terrible actions as you just being a frivolous, selfish, weak-willed idiot, and not a betraying cold-hearted lust-monster like everybody thought.

I still think you're a dickweasel, though.

---

Dearest Colonel Brandon,

You beautiful sweetheart of a man. I don't know if my extreme affection for you is permanently colored by the late, great Alan Rickman playing you in the 1995 film (it probably is), but either way, my affection for you is intense, and it is real. I can't even be glib at all in writing to you because all of my other feelings are currently being swamped by the overflowing of goopy sappiness you provoke in me. Marianne better treat you right, that's all I gotta say.

---

Dear Edward Ferrars,

You're kind of a weeny, but Elinor loves you, so I'm with you all the way. She wouldn't love you if you didn't deserve it. Also, it's pretty great that you decided to honor that shitty commitment your idiot past self made to Lucy Steele, though it was making you miserable even before you met the love of your life and realized you could never be with her. I suppose I don't blame you for being so reserved.

You better just thank Jebus every day that things shook out the way they did. You could have had a MUCH different life.

---

Dear England in the 1800s,

Fuck you and your stupid inheritance laws. This is all your fault.

(Don't worry, you eventually get your shit together. And by the way, thank you for Sherlock and Doctor Who and The Great British Bake-Off. And oh, Emma Thompson also. And JK Rowling. Fuuuuuuck why am I not British.)

---

Dear Mrs. Ferrars,

---

Dear Marianne,

Oh, Marianne, you beautiful, naïve, sophisticated newborn baby. I love watching you grow up over the course of this book. It's painful to watch it happen sometimes because you are SO open with every feeling that you have ever had, as if a feeling is only real if it is expressed and someone else has seen it and validated it. And unfortunately the reason you learn reserve and the value of sense is due to heartbreak and humiliation, both by a trusted paramour to whom you had promised your heart, and by your most cherished sister, who felt pain as deeply as you and in nearly the same circumstances, and did it in such a way that put your own behavior to shame.

It's lovely to be open and emotional, but it's okay to be quiet once in a while, too, and keep things to yourself. Feelings don't necessarily need to be expressed, only felt.

Now go make lots of chubby babies with Colonel Brandon, that delicious kumquat of a man.

---

My Elinor,

Perhaps this is only a realization I could have come to as I grew older, but you are by far my favorite Austen heroine. I feel great affection for Lizzie Bennet and Anne Elliott and even that silly Emma Woodhouse, but something about you speaks to me on a deep, unfathomable level. Your quiet reserve that hides such depths of emotion, your kindness even to those who most seek to hurt you, your love for your sister and your family, your ability to see what needs to be done, and do it without complaint. I just admire you so fucking much. You are the queen of my heart.

I'm not the first person to call you 'my Elinor,' either. That honor belongs to your creator, Ms. Austen. I'm guessing since it's her mind that gave birth to you, she felt the same way I do about you, and so I shall shamelessly steal her affectation.

The only thing is, my darling Elinor, I think it is all right for you to think of yourself first every now and then, and let all that deep emotion out of its cage every once in a while. I'm sure nobody who matters will mind.

Love, Ashley

February 2016: How lovely that I've finished this book for the third time on Valentine's Day. Will be doing a full review this time around, so expect that to come some time in the next couple of days. It's gonna be a doozy. Now please excuse me while I go watch the Emma Thompson movie for the one billionth time and sigh longingly into my cup of hot chocolate.

September 2010: There's something to be said for re-reading books, even ones you weren't necessarily that attached to the first go-round. The first time I read Sense and Sensibility I liked it. Gave it four stars. But three years later, I absolutely adore it, and can't understand how I missed the amazingness. I just think that, even though we don't want to admit it, young people are really too stupid to understand much of anything. So many feelings, so much irony, so much meanness disguised as polite conversation. It's delightful.

I just finished the movie as well, the one written by Emma Thompson and directed by Ang Lee. It slayed me. I mean it, I'm dead....more

Rereading Sense and Sensibility was a joy and a delight. It was also surprisingly enlightening.

Wait, enlightening? Seriously? Isn't that a bit much for a girly romance story?

Well, I think reading a Jane Austen novel can be enlightening because the characters are drawn so well that they resemble real people. I've been slowly rereading Austen's novels, and I am constantly impressed by her powers of observation and description. Even though she was writing 200 years ago, her stories remind me of manRereading Sense and Sensibility was a joy and a delight. It was also surprisingly enlightening.

Wait, enlightening? Seriously? Isn't that a bit much for a girly romance story?

Well, I think reading a Jane Austen novel can be enlightening because the characters are drawn so well that they resemble real people. I've been slowly rereading Austen's novels, and I am constantly impressed by her powers of observation and description. Even though she was writing 200 years ago, her stories remind me of many people I know, and I even see parts of myself in them. She had tremendous insight into human behavior.

I think one of the things that makes S&S so compelling is that the two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, are so opposite in how they approach the world. Elinor favors order and restraint, and when she falls in love with a man, Edward Ferrars, she does so quietly and she follows good reason. She understands that there will be opposition to the match, and that Edward is unlikely to propose to her.

In contrast, when Marianne falls in love with the dashing Willoughby, she is not shy in her affections and spends all her time with him. She recklessly follows her heart, and is nearly destroyed when he abandons her and marries another.

(Personal note: It has probably been a decade since I read S&S, and I think I used to identify more with Elinor, or at least aspire to be like Elinor, but with this reading, I had to admit that I have always been more like Marianne. That is to say, I fancied myself a romantic, I threw myself into relationships, and I had trouble concealing my emotions. I think age has cured most of this, but I kind of wish I had read S&S when I was a teenager, you know? Maybe the wisdom would have come earlier.)

What I especially loved about reading S&S were the put-downs of anyone who was silly, mean or vain. Jane Austen did not suffer fools gladly. Here is a favorite description:

Mrs. Ferrars was a little, thin woman, upright, even to formality, in her figure, and serious, even to sourness, in her aspect. Her complexion was sallow; and her features small, without beauty, and naturally without expression; but a lucky contraction of the brow had rescued her countenance from the disgrace of insipidity, by giving it the strong characters of pride and ill nature. She was not a woman of many words; for, unlike people in general, she proportioned them to the number of her ideas; and of the few syllables that did escape her, not one fell to the share of Miss Dashwood, whom she eyed with the spirited determination of disliking her at all events.

And here is another:

John Dashwood had not much to say for himself that was worth hearing, and his wife had still less. But there was no peculiar disgrace in this; for it was very much the case with the chief of their visitors, who almost all laboured under one or other of these disqualifications for being agreeable — want of sense, either natural or improved — want of elegance — want of spirits — or want of temper.

Jane Austen's writing is so delicious that I savored this novel for days, not wanting it to end. My only complaint about S&S is its poor opening. It starts with several pages of family exposition, about how the father of Elinor & Marianne died without being able to leave them much in his will. The story doesn't get going until you get past that background info. But otherwise, this novel is such a delight that I highly recommend it....more

Sense and Sensibility is a lot like a Fast & Furious movie, except there are no supercar races, gun fights, fist fights, robbery, and scantily clad girls. Come to think of it Sense and Sensibility is nothing like a Fast & Furious movie. I just had no idea how to start off the review.

Actually Sense and Sensibility is (seriously now) a lot like Pride and Prejudice. What with the sisters, one stoic and worldly, one a little wild, impulsive and naive, not to mention the youngest one who isSense and Sensibility is a lot like a Fast & Furious movie, except there are no supercar races, gun fights, fist fights, robbery, and scantily clad girls. Come to think of it Sense and Sensibility is nothing like a Fast & Furious movie. I just had no idea how to start off the review.

Actually Sense and Sensibility is (seriously now) a lot like Pride and Prejudice. What with the sisters, one stoic and worldly, one a little wild, impulsive and naive, not to mention the youngest one who is the Maggie Simpson* of the family and does not have much to do. Then we have the nice but immediately friendzoned gentlemen, the handsome cad and the twittering mom with the dollar GBP sign popping up in her eyes when considering her daughters’ matrimonial prospects.

In all fairness to Ms. Austen, the two books are not that similar, Sense and Sensibility is her debut novel and she later used some of the same elements to write her magnum opus (“Pride” that is). The book is entirely focussed on the two Dashwood sisters Elinor and Marianne and their felicitous relationships with men. This is not the kind of book you should put through the Bechdel test because the ladies herein very seldom talk about anything else except the men in their lives. Still, you never have to wonder what the ladies in this book do in their spare time because all their time seems to be spare time, Thomas Hardy’s heroines seem to have much harder and more productive lives. Still, I don’t want to put too much of a negative spin on Sense and Sensibility because it is a pleasure to read in spite of its flaws and low stakes.

Jane Austen is brilliant at writing silly, twittering, meddling women who actually mean well but never stop talking except when they are listening through the door and completely misunderstanding the snatches of conversation they could hear. Mrs. Jennings, a friend of the family, is my favorite character in the book, she can always be relied upon to hilariously bark up the wrong tree. Curiously characterization is both a strength and a weakness of this book. The “good guys”, namely Edward Ferrars and Colonel Brandon, are awfully dull, semi-zombified gentlemen. Whereas Willoughby the cad is lively and always game for a laugh. Sir John Dashwood, who is somewhat of an antagonist, is not so lively but he is hilariously tactless and shallow. Our two heroines are both too nice and are no match for the almost-femme fatale Lucy Steele.

Jane Austen is at her best when she is skewering people in polite society and terribly inhibited gents: “The nature of her commendation, in the present case, however, happened to be particularly ill-suited to the feelings of two thirds of her auditors, and was so very unexhilarating to Edward, that he very soon got up to go away”

Unexhilarating! LOL! Then there is this bit which is worthy of a high five:

“she did not really like them at all. Because they neither flattered herself nor her children, she could not believe them good-natured; and because they were fond of reading, she fancied them satirical: perhaps without exactly knowing what it was to be satirical; but THAT did not signify. It was censure in common use, and easily given.”

I started reading Jane Austen to find out what the fuss is about, why do the studios keep adapting her works for films and TV? Initially I did not get it, her storylines always seem inconsequential to me but I have always liked her beautiful prose so I keep coming back to read more. With Sense and Sensibility it finally clicked for me. The snark! Beneath the Victorian politeness and sense of decorium Ms. Austen was a fabulously snarky lady. Having come to this conclusion I am practically ready to join the rank of the Janeites. I already have a bonnet, with several bees in it.

* and her name is Maggie Dashwood! (sort of)___________________________Notes:It’s kind of a shame that the multiple Oscars winning 1995 film adaptation cast the excellent Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant as the nice but awfully boring gentlemen. Emma Thompson is spot on as the super competent Elinor Dashwood though, and Kate Winslet is always worth the admission price.

GR's Sense and Sensibility Quotes page is full of pithy lines, I think it misrepresents the books as something overly earnest or serious. Sense and Sensibility is, for me, a hoot.

Special thanks to the fabulous Ms. Karen Savage for her gracious and beautiful narration of the free Librivox audiobook edition of Sense and Sensibility. She could narrate a laundry list and I'd be happy to listen to it....more

The more I read this novel, the more I am convinced that I shall never be able to write a proper review. ......one that it truly deserves

But it is so hard to write one when you love a book so much. Maybe this time, I will come up with something worthy. When I feel so much out of depth, I turn to some trustworthy quotes and on this particular occasion I think I managed to find a really good one by Ian P. Watt. It is from the book A Truth Universally Acknowledged: 33 Great Writers on Why We ReadThe more I read this novel, the more I am convinced that I shall never be able to write a proper review. ......one that it truly deserves

Many of Jane Austen's admirers, it is true, read her novels as a means of escape into a cozy sort of Old English nirvana, but they find this escape in her pages only because, as E. M. Foster has written, the devout "Janeite" "like all regular churchgoers ... scarcely notices what is being said."(...)Nor do we need such a great deal of ingenuity to see that all, or nearly all, the great issues in human life make their appearance on Jane Austen's narrow stage. True, it is only a stage of petty domestic circumstance; but that, after all, is the only stage where most of us are likely to meet them.Jane Austen's stage, then, is narrow; it is also devoted to entertainment; and we may fail to recognize the great issues of life in their humorous garb unless we are prepared to view the comic mode as an entertainment which can be both intellectually and morally serious. (...)Today we are less accustomed to look for universal norms in what we read ... partly because we tend to see life, and therefore literature, mainly in terms of individual experience. Jane Austen's own standards were, like those of her age, much more absolute; and as a novelist she presented all her characters in terms of of their relations to a fixed code of values. ...more

This is actually the first time I've read this book the whole way through! I had this movie memorized by the time I was 7, so I've always set the book aside when the beginning chapters weren't done in as much detail.

And yes, a lot of detailed movie scenes are summarized in a few sentences in the book, BUT I finally admitted that the book expands in so many other areas. I loved seeing more into Elinor's mind and got a way stronger understanding of Marianne's character. They're still two of my abThis is actually the first time I've read this book the whole way through! I had this movie memorized by the time I was 7, so I've always set the book aside when the beginning chapters weren't done in as much detail.

And yes, a lot of detailed movie scenes are summarized in a few sentences in the book, BUT I finally admitted that the book expands in so many other areas. I loved seeing more into Elinor's mind and got a way stronger understanding of Marianne's character. They're still two of my absolute favorite Austen heroines. I love how whole story is just so wonderfully complex and still completely relatable today. And in the end I actually felt like I got a way richer story out of the book despite characters like Mrs. Jennings not having quite as much dialogue (I just adore her in the movies).

I think Persuasion is still my favorite Austen novel, but this is also up there!...more

It's a Jane Austen novel so this is obviously brilliant and should be read by everyone!!!! Duhhh!!!!!!

"And books!—Thomson, Cowper, Scott—she would buy them all over and over again: she would buy up every copy, I believe, to prevent their falling into unworthy hands; and she would have every book that tells her how to admire an old twisted tree."

Oh if only I could go back and read this for the first time all over again.... Would my first impressions be different if I hadn't read this as aIt's a Jane Austen novel so this is obviously brilliant and should be read by everyone!!!! Duhhh!!!!!!

"And books!—Thomson, Cowper, Scott—she would buy them all over and over again: she would buy up every copy, I believe, to prevent their falling into unworthy hands; and she would have every book that tells her how to admire an old twisted tree."

Oh if only I could go back and read this for the first time all over again.... Would my first impressions be different if I hadn't read this as a teenager??

- Would I have admired Elinor more??? (I respect her so much more now as an adult. I'm sorry to say I thought her a little dull years ago! FORGIVE ME ELINOR!!!!!)

- Would I still have wanted to wring Marianne's neck at times....(Probably!!)

- Pretty sure Lucy Steele would still drive me batty.... (Everytime she features I just want to punch her.....not very mature of me I know!!)

- What would I think of darling Edward????(*eye roll*.....muppet......)

- Or head-turning Willoughby ("%^*@!!!!!!!")

- And my beautifully reserved Colonel Brandon.... (I think I do love Colonel Brandon the best and it has NOTHING to do with my love for Alan Rickman.....Okay maybe a little..... Okay FINE!!!!!!!!! I LOVE ALAN RICKMAN PROBABLY MORE THAN COLONEL BRANDON BUT IT IS STILL VERY CLOSE!!!!!!)Sorry, sorry that's the Sheriff of Nottingham.....

Here:-Oh no wait...that's Hans Gruber! MY BAD!!!!! *giggles*

This is the dearly departed Mr Rickman as Colonel Brandon in the 1995 film adaptation of the book and I defy you not to fall head over heels for him!!! *sigh*R.I.P. Alan; you were a phenomenal actor and are sorely missed.

Oh how I do love Alan Rickman ALL of these characters (even the ones that annoy me!!!) because they all contribute to a wonderful storyline. I have read this book countless times and love it ever more with each read. Rereading this novel in the past few days was like reuniting with long absent friends; it felt completely comfortable and wonderfully satisfying to my little heart. Absolute book perfection. What more could a girl ever want?????

Well I wouldn't say no to Hugh Grant either especially when he looks like, and says, this..... *cue bashful smiling* You may be a muppet Edward Ferrars, but you're my adorably floppy-haired muppet!!!!

I hate them for a wide variety of reasons - I hate their formulaic plots, their repeated character tropes that never seem to change (hmm, will this one have a sassy best friend who only exists to dispense advice?), I hate their consistent failing of the the Bechdel test, and I hate the way they try to make me believe that a skinny and gorgeous woman is incapable of finding a man because she's clumsy or has a job or something.

But mostly, I hate them because their plotsI hate romantic comedies.

I hate them for a wide variety of reasons - I hate their formulaic plots, their repeated character tropes that never seem to change (hmm, will this one have a sassy best friend who only exists to dispense advice?), I hate their consistent failing of the the Bechdel test, and I hate the way they try to make me believe that a skinny and gorgeous woman is incapable of finding a man because she's clumsy or has a job or something.

But mostly, I hate them because their plots revolve entirely around what boy likes what girl and vice versa, and nothing else ever happens. Sure, there can be subplots, and yes, brilliant romantic comedies do exist, but I want my movie protagonists to do more than worry about who they're going to marry.

Reading Sense and Sensibility made me realize why I don't like Jane Austen's books, and probably never will: she was a brilliant author, and her novels are funny and well-written, but at the end of the day, her characters spend 90% of their time talking about boys. Nothing else happens: they go to a ball, where they worry about which boy isn't dancing with them; they have tea, where they talk about which girls have snagged which boys; and they write letters about which girls have done scandalous things with boys. It's just pages and pages of "I like you but you hate me!" "No, I really love you, you were just misinformed!" "My, what a silly misunderstanding!" "I agree! Let's get married!" and all its variations and it bores me to death. I love the humor, and I love the characters, I just want them to do something interesting. This is probably why Pride and Prejudice and Zombies resonated so well with me - finally, the Bennett sisters got to do something besides sit around and mope about the various boys who weren't talking to them for whatever reason!

Sense and Sensibility is one long slog of "I love this boy! But oh no, he's engaged to someone else!" and "This boy acted like he loved me but he really didn't and now I am sad and will ignore the other boy who has clearly been meant to marry me all along!" It's for this reason that, when faced with the prospect of reading the last 70 pages of this book in order to finish it, I was filled with dread and realized that I do not give a single flying fuck who the Dashwood sisters end up marrying. The only thing that would make me want to finish the book is if the story ends with Elinor and Marianne deciding to go off to college or travel to China or fight zombies or do something besides get married. But I know they won't, because this is an Austen novel, and things only end one way here.

There's nothing fundamentally wrong with romantic comedies - they're funny, lighthearted entertainment where everyone is beautiful and nothing hurts, and the people who get unhappy endings were mean people and deserved it anyway. I do not begrudge anyone for liking this kind of entertainment - it's just not my taste, and I won't waste any time feeling bad about this.

Sorry, Ms. Austen. I gave it my all, but it's just not going to work out. But don't worry: it's not you, it's me. ...more

A couple summers back I abandoned Emma after thirty pages. I assumed I'd fall on the “overwritten drama for women who like Colin Firth” side of the Austen conflict, but, after hearing readers I respect praise Ms. Austen and snagging a high-quality Penguin edition at a Borders closing sale, I tackled Sense and Sensibility over the late rainy spring. Now I'm wondering from where my Austen misconceptions emerged. What made me think Austen was boring? Where did I get that idea? Sense and SensibilityA couple summers back I abandoned Emma after thirty pages. I assumed I'd fall on the “overwritten drama for women who like Colin Firth” side of the Austen conflict, but, after hearing readers I respect praise Ms. Austen and snagging a high-quality Penguin edition at a Borders closing sale, I tackled Sense and Sensibility over the late rainy spring. Now I'm wondering from where my Austen misconceptions emerged. What made me think Austen was boring? Where did I get that idea? Sense and Sensibility is funny, hilarious, even, and remarkably insightful. I'm switching teams.

Austen's myriad talents surprised me. This surprise is a discredit to the reader, not the author. She writes complex, multi-layered characters and exhibits a scary aptitude for the male perspective. The characters make mistakes and struggle within their entanglements. Sense and Sensibility displays, over and over again, the intricate psychology of desire, morality, and appearances. The last few pages resolve the storylines a little too easily for me, I must admit, but at least the resolution emerges with an assured grace.

Did I mention this book was funny? How come I approached Sense and Sensibility as if the novel was deadly serious from the first page to the last? Austen frames nuanced exchanges, esp. between Elinor and different figures she encounters through polite society, so readers perceive the subtle mockery and sarcasm while the targeted characters (at least those on the wrong end of the sarcasm) do not. A writing teacher wanting to exemplify the “show, don't tell” concept would do well to give the students Austen's portrayal of shallow Mr. John Dashwood and his sneaky wife, Fanny. Austen doesn't shy away from taking shots at good-hearted characters, either. Sir John's inability to talk about much other than hunting and Anne Steele's strategies for getting teased, despite her protests otherwise, are top notch examples. This book made me laugh out loud. Jane Austen made me laugh out loud. I didn't see that coming.

Sense and Sensibility also opens a window into the interactions between sisters and daughters and mothers. This is terra incognita, personally, so I read these passages closely. The Dashwood women know and love each other with a familial intensity I respected but didn't recognize.

You know why Austen's important? I'm not saying this to sound sensitive or get Elizabeth to vote for this review. I could see smart women encountering the latest Kathryn Heigel romantic comedy trailer and thinking, “FUCK! Do people think this is what all woman want and think and believe? Fuck that. Stop representing me as a fucking asshole.” Ok, maybe smart women don't swear that much. But I hope they do. Anyway, Sense and Sensibility is a much more thoughtful and substantial portrayal of wonderful women than I can remember in the recent popular media. Austen doesn't turn these women into proud, faultless characters but brings them alive, gets into their heads, and shines an intimate light on their abundant, intricate energies. I may not return to Emma soon but I'll check out Pride and Prejudice maybe later in the summer and watch that Ang Lee version of Sense and Sensibility about which a few friends raved. My previous dismissal of Austen's work was a mistake. I acknowledge my error and urge readers to resist the pigeonholing of her work into the “for girls who like Colin Firth” category. She deserves better than that. Way better.

I wish Jane Austen could see she became an admired literary standard. She conjures such scholarly connotations, I was wary of enjoying “Sense And Sensibility”. I hope my words attain quality that is discussed and absorbed for meaning but books are about the story, personages, message, setting, and sympathizing with them. I couldn't care less about structural intentions, like “symbolism”, thus my reviews are never going to be critical essay types. Just as a novel, I am thrilled to report I likedI wish Jane Austen could see she became an admired literary standard. She conjures such scholarly connotations, I was wary of enjoying “Sense And Sensibility”. I hope my words attain quality that is discussed and absorbed for meaning but books are about the story, personages, message, setting, and sympathizing with them. I couldn't care less about structural intentions, like “symbolism”, thus my reviews are never going to be critical essay types. Just as a novel, I am thrilled to report I liked this! I feel relief and triumph, to have enjoyed this enough to give it four stars!

We have read and seen numerous stories portraying the 1800s, most often in England; at a distance already for North Americans, culturally. They must spotlight a rare class, with mercifully extinct codes of conduct. Except Edward Farrars' Mother, I was shocked, to find an authoress from 1811 itself, depicting no stuffiness! How enlightening, from someone who knew how society acted. We still observe morals and manners, as we should but there was scarcely any unreasonable mindset. I followed this Mother and daughters right along, who loved each other and had fun. Quite unforeseen relief is that “Sense And Sensibility” is supposed to be about two who are different but Elinor & Marianne are loving and loyal. There was no antagonism. They had respectfully different attitudes and coping mannerisms.

Another striking aspect is that this family quartet of women, including young Margaret, needed a financial lift only as much as some men. They were content on their own. Even though they were aware their step-brother promised to share his male-structured inheritance, they did not challenge him and his selfish wife. The largest surprise, is that I expected a social commentary and found a veritable novel: with a story that goes somewhere and plot twists I did not dream it would yield.

Even though I am a linguist, I had to pause and absorb pages properly because they are stuffed full of intelligent language, with eloquently impressive turns of phrase but I praise this. Part of the point of sampling Jane, is to broaden my vocabulary and literary palate. However any modern person wondering if they will relate to Marianne and Elinor and find an enjoyable story, must be encouraged. I am glad I have read the first of her books! It is a due I felt it right to grant this lady, for an unusually personal reason. All the way from Canada, I have visited her house!...more

C.Thank you very much, Teresa! I knew I probably need not fear Jane Austen and Manitoba's own classics, Gabrielle Roy and Margaret Laurence. However I wThank you very much, Teresa! I knew I probably need not fear Jane Austen and Manitoba's own classics, Gabrielle Roy and Margaret Laurence. However I was hesitant enough about getting going, that it feels triumphant that I have....more
Feb 18, 2018 10:58AM

TeresaGlad you enjoyed it. It really is a great read. It's been adapted to dvd very successfully too.
Feb 18, 2018 11:14AM

Another great story from Jane Austen; this time about the three sisters, Elinor, Marianne and Margaret, and their mother who settle themselves in a small and charming cottage in England. "Sense & Sensibility" is mainly about the two elder sisters, Elinor and Marianne, and their journey of falling in love and finding a husband. I liked the sisters a lot and I enjoyed reading about their experiences in the world of love. They go through ups and downs, and Jane Austen constantly create surpriseAnother great story from Jane Austen; this time about the three sisters, Elinor, Marianne and Margaret, and their mother who settle themselves in a small and charming cottage in England. "Sense & Sensibility" is mainly about the two elder sisters, Elinor and Marianne, and their journey of falling in love and finding a husband. I liked the sisters a lot and I enjoyed reading about their experiences in the world of love. They go through ups and downs, and Jane Austen constantly create surprises that make sure the plot is refreshened. However, while reading this book I couldn't abandon the feeling that it was all in all about some whining girls and their struggles. Elinor and Marianne are definitely endearing, but I felt like the plot was a tiny bit too simple and the descriptions a little bit too heavy for my taste. That being said, I still very much enjoyed this novel - especially the first 2/3 of it. The last 1/3 is when things became a bit too convenient, and that's why I ended up with a 3-star-rating. ...more

My doctrine has never aimed at the subjection of the understanding. All I have ever attempted to influence has been the behavior. You must not confound my meaning. I am guilty, I confess, of having often wished you to treat our acquaintance in general with greater attention but when have I advised you to adopt their sentiments or conform to their judgment in serious matters?

Two-and-a-half years and two Austen lectures regarding the title at hand on (with a further one to come), my thought3.5/5

My doctrine has never aimed at the subjection of the understanding. All I have ever attempted to influence has been the behavior. You must not confound my meaning. I am guilty, I confess, of having often wished you to treat our acquaintance in general with greater attention but when have I advised you to adopt their sentiments or conform to their judgment in serious matters?

Two-and-a-half years and two Austen lectures regarding the title at hand on (with a further one to come), my thoughts have changed, but my final rating has not. I won't be couching my criticisms with puppies and prats anymore, for I can now express my appreciations and my disturbances in far less mincing language. Both Pride and Prejudice and Persuasion attest to Austen's ability to win me over, and I have especially good feelings about Mansfield Park, so take my criticism for what it is: the evaluation of an author's first novel upon multiple readings. Wit has become politics and ganky prats have turned into socially acceptable rapists, but that's what happens when you put lit through the academic grinder. We wouldn't still be reading Austen as a classic if her pen wasn't oftentimes a sword.

Three cheers for my prof delving into the politics of 1790's England in conjunction with a character breakdown, for laws tethering together public disrespect for government with instantaneous conviction of treason puts the subtle bite of Sense and Sensibility in an entirely new light. 1984 and V for Vendetta didn't spring out of thin air, and if S&S' culture of espionage doesn't come across as anything out of the ordinary, that says far more about the state of your country than early 19th century English literature. Elinor picks and chooses bits of truth for her sister's own good, Sir John ensures no fresh blood will not go uninculcated, and god forbid your life doesn't completely follow the socially conforming gossip of Mrs. Jennings. The rhetoric that comes about as a result of this hang-the-Frenchy-spy is as extraordinarily subtle as it is scathing, but newspapers around this time didn't start getting taxed for no reason. Willoughby's walking free has nothing to do with respectability and everything to do with fear, and a relatively happy ending for someone with one, almost two, girlfriends in the sometimes metaphorical grave makes for an effective safety net in Austen's time and a less than cordial reception in mine.

Subversion of machiavellian machinations aside, people need to start talking more about Austen's Wollstonecraftian influence and penchant for dick jokes. I'd reread P&P forever without awareness of either, but the point is a variety of juicy paradigms to sink one's teeth into that can forever fend off the likes of Twain and co. Other than that, I'll be watching a movie of this work for extra credit. Alan Rickman, you will be missed.

---

8/19/13

3.5/5

The whole of Lucy's behaviour in the affair, and the prosperity which crowned it, therefore, may be held forth as a most encouraging instance of what an earnest, an unceasing attention to self-interest, however its progress may be apparently obstructed, will do in securing every advantage of fortune, with no other sacrifice than that of time and conscience.

I will admit to thinking long and hard on whether to delegate this book's rating to a mere three stars in the standardized counter, detailing to be in reality a 3.5 within the review. However, every time I came close to deciding on that for good, a feeling was produced akin to as if I had watched the most adorable of puppies cavort in an elegantly precise fashion, a puppy that upon sensing my being unimpressed with said cavortings hid itself in a corner and curled into a ball of sadness. Needless to say, I reconsidered my decision, and while I ultimately decided to go through with it, I must say I am confident that most would find it a four star.

Call me overly vindictive, but I extremely dislike it when ganky prats don't get their comeuppance in any sort of fiction. To be fair, I am likely to forgive them their insipid brattishness if the author expands on the realities of the society and/or the character's first point perspective motivations to a decent enough extent for their actions to make sense. Austen made an effort with both, fortunately with the former far exceeding the latter to the point that I decided not to lower my rating simply because a few of the snobs could have benefited from some therapy of the vivisectional kind. A bit brutal, to be sure, but true. Also, the plot and all its convolutions in an effort to adhere to ridiculous principles of the time was a bit much, but as I'm not a big fan of reasonable plots in general, that point of discontent is on my head entirely.

Despite all that, I have to consider the time and place of Austen's writing. The above quote pretty much sums up the reality of her situation, which I must recognize as historical fact as much as it grates on my nerves to do so. And if there's one thing she does exceedingly well, it is her weaving of stories as closely within the web of conventions and social sensibilities that existed in her time period as satire does, without breaking any of the lines. Mocking something is easy. Mocking it in such a smartly sensitive and hilarious sensible manner is another thing entirely, no matter how much acquiescence to certain past customs rubs me the wrong way.

Also, her prose? Well structured to a delicate laced and filigreed tee, without a loose thread or runny stitch to be seen. While I do love my rambling crescendos of prose whose glorious profundity is tied up with its intrinsic chaos, I have to give a nod to masterful efforts of making sentences cooperate with each other in such well behaved fashions. Every time I happened to wonder on a particular tidbit that hadn't been fully explicated, behold! It appeared by the end of the paragraph. Didn't leave much room for anchorless contemplation, but that's hardly a matter for faulting a piece of literature.

And finally, it was witty, it was adorable, there was a happy ending, and ultimately I was left with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Considering how many issues I have with achieving said warm and fuzzy feeling, I'm not about to criticize something that enables such any more than I need to. That would not only be a case of being unimpressed with the puppy, it would be one of kicking the puppy. As vindictive I am, that is simply not cool....more

Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.

Austen lived her entire life as part of a close-knit family located on the lower fringes of the English landed gentryJane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.

Austen lived her entire life as part of a close-knit family located on the lower fringes of the English landed gentry. She was educated primarily by her father and older brothers as well as through her own reading. The steadfast support of her family was critical to her development as a professional writer. Her artistic apprenticeship lasted from her teenage years until she was about 35 years old. During this period, she experimented with various literary forms, including the epistolary novel which she tried then abandoned, and wrote and extensively revised three major novels and began a fourth. From 1811 until 1816, with the release of Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1815), she achieved success as a published writer. She wrote two additional novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, both published posthumously in 1818, and began a third, which was eventually titled Sanditon, but died before completing it.

Austen's works critique the novels of sensibility of the second half of the 18th century and are part of the transition to 19th-century realism. Her plots, though fundamentally comic, highlight the dependence of women on marriage to secure social standing and economic security. Her work brought her little personal fame and only a few positive reviews during her lifetime, but the publication in 1869 of her nephew's A Memoir of Jane Austen introduced her to a wider public, and by the 1940s she had become widely accepted in academia as a great English writer. The second half of the 20th century saw a proliferation of Austen scholarship and the emergence of a Janeite fan culture....more